AKRON — The Akron Public Schools (APS) Board of Education is beginning a search for a new board member following the resignation of Ginger Baylor, who has accepted a position with U.S. Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-District 11). Locally, District 11 includes West Akron, Bath, Fairlawn and Richfield.

Baylor was chairwoman of the Finance and Capital Management Committee.

In stepping down, Baylor thanked her fellow board members, Superintendent David James and his administration, saying, “It has been my pleasure and privilege being elected to serve as an Akron school board member. I am grateful for having the opportunity to serve with such insightful and caring board members and administrators.”

On behalf of the board, President Jason Haas thanked Baylor for her service to Akron’s school children

“She brought a great passion to her position that was evident in her accessibility and dedication,” Haas said.

Baylor was elected to the board in November 2009.

“The job of our school board members is challenging; it takes a strong commitment to children and education. I appreciate Ginger Baylor’s work for our students and the future of APS,” James said.

The APS Board of Education will be accepting letters of interest and résumés through March 14, with an announcement of the newest board member expected at the March 25 school board meeting.

Applicants may email the necessary information to either Haas at jhaas@akron.k12.oh.us or to Board secretary Marilyn Clackler at mclackle@akron.k12.oh.us. Résumés and letters also may be dropped off or mailed to the Sylvester Small Administration Building, 70 N. Broadway St., Akron, OH 44308.

Interviews will begin March 18 at 5:30 p.m. and continue that evening until completed.

APS STEM middle school students win app contest

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Students from the Akron Public Schools’ National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) School ... Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Learning won the Verizon App Challenge and were voted best in state.

The students and their faculty adviser, Viviana Bronlow, a University of Akron student, created a web application they call a virtual reality classroom that can be used by STEM or non-STEM classrooms as part of their curriculum.

The students are part of an after-school club, and their team was a part of the statewide middle school and high school challenge. Their mission was to develop a mobile application concept that incorporates STEM and addresses a real need or problem in their school or community. The Akron team members are Aaron Brown, Anthony Brown, Ravyn Edge, Kyle Lang, Conner Mullins, Nathan Mullins, Andrew Murphy and Isabella Vaccaro.

The app, STEM UP, functions like other virtual reality games. The purpose of STEM UP is to divert students’ attention back to learning and the classroom while playing games on their computer, phones or any mobile gadgets.

Players answer questions and learn from famous people who pioneered STEM skills and inventions as they mingle with other users to move ahead to the next level. The user will need to surpass all the challenges of the quest that the STEM Pioneers will throw at him or her to step up to the next level and win the game.

The classroom coach is able to customize questions that the user will need to answer.

NIHF STEM is among 10 winning schools statewide in the Verizon App Challenge. Each school receives a $10,000 cash grant plus professional support and training to help bring their designs to life and to market.

Students on the winning team each receive a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and are invited to present their winning app at the 2013 National Technology Student Association Conference in Orlando, Fla., in June.

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Local high schools are getting ready to compete in the 2013 JA Titan Challenge taking place March 22 and hosted by Junior Achievement (JA) of North Central Ohio.

The event will take place at The University of Akron from 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Gary and Karen Taylor Institute for Direct Marketing in the Polsky Building.

Local high schools competing this year include Archbishop Hoban, Copley, Firestone, Highland and Woodridge. The top three teams will receive scholarship prizes, in addition to a cash prize and trophy for their high school.

The JA Titan Challenge is a high school competition that uses Junior Achievement’s high school JA Titan Program. During the competition, students experience how success or failure of a business depends on how well they manage key decisions such as pricing, marketing strategies and research and development investments.

Between rounds, the students will be engaged in an ice-breaker activity and interactive discussion with a panel of experts comprised of local business leaders.